Your 2¢

1. Jason Said,

   The best part of my day starts every morning in the shower as I stand there and let nature do the work. No hands for me, the lower brain does what it wants as the bladder does the pushing.

   Learning to pee standing up isn’t traumatic for a boy, it is one of lifes finer discoveries.

2. Matthew Said,

   Things I remember:

   1. My potty chair thing was a giraffe. The back of the thing was taller than me.

   2. When I was tall enough to pee in the big people’s toilet, I was deathly afraid that the seat would fall down and whack my peepee off.

   3. I don’t remember ever being afraid of going down the drain.

   4. Target Practice. My parents were smokers back then, and one of my favorite games was playing target practice with Dad’s cigarette butts which he threw in the toilet. I hear they make flushable plastic targets now. It just wouldn’t be the same.

   5. Camping. Going with Dad to pee on a tree or in the bushes was fun. You could hit ANYTHING (except Dad’s shoes) and Mom wouldn’t complain about the mess.

   6. Lesson learned: it’s best not to pee on wasps. They don’t like it.

   7. Peeing in the woods as an adult on LSD is a bit more intimidating. I swear those Ents were gonna tie me up and bury me or something.

   8. To this day I’m appalled and yet fascinated by Warhol’s Piss series. Someday I’d like to make one of my own for our bathroom. (But I’ll probably get vetoed.)

   9. I remember a heated discussion in a college intro to art class (RWC) regarding Serrano’s Piss Christ. I’ve since come to regard it as a very spiritual piece, but YMMV.

   But in regards to the OP, why on earth would anyone feel the necessity to buy a toilet training urinal for a kid? I mean come on. Trees in the backyard are just as good. And they’re getting fresh air that way.

   

3. vw bug Said,

   Not necessary… but I bet my boys would have loved it.

4. wRitErsbLock Said,

   Matthew: YMMV = ?

5. Mrs. Who Said,

   One more piece of junk in my house to clean AND it has urine in it???? Thank God I’m past that!

6. Roses Said,

   From what the husband tells me, the public urinals don’t go all the way to the floor. So, he either had to hold the boys up in front of a “big boy’s” urinal, or hold them up over the toilet… which was also too high for wee little boys to reach with wee little wee-wees.

   But, I’m SO with Mrs. Who on this one.
   Don’t need one more thing with urine in/on/around it.

   ACK!

7. Ingrid Said,

   Totally unecessary imo, though I guess I don’t care if someone wants to spend their hard earned money on it! Today my kids got to see this amazing children’s garden at a botanical garden. I was very thankful we go there early and nobody was around… to see my son pull his shorts down and pee on some flowers. OMG… we are REALLY working on that I swear, but he just doesn’t seem to care yet and it is just to late usually when I notice.

8. Matthew Said,

   (your mileage may vary)

9. Brian the sailor Said,

   Oh, I am so late on commenting here. I read it at work, but I seldom comment from there (DOD computers).
   I don’t remember when, so I have to assume I was taught to pee standing when I was old enough for the equipment to be above the rim.

   Here’s the deal: Guys! If you deny there’s a splatter affect, you’re lying to yourselves.
   Sit the f*** down! Especially if you’re at the home of a woman. She doesn’t want to be cleaning your afterspray from her walls!

   That’s all for now.

10. DS Said,

    BTS speaks the truth! Back in my bachelor days I started sitting down every time I took a leak, just to avoid making a mess and having to clean it up later. I still sit all the time at home. My wife thinks it’s weird, but after I told her about the spray she understood.

    Standing in public bathrooms is awesome - cause who wants to sit on those filthy things? Even if they look clean, who knows what germs might be there!

    As far as “target practice” the most fun was writing your name in the snow.

    Okay… to answer your questions…

    > Do parents need this to teach boys how
    > to pee standing up?

    No. Some things come naturally.

    > Do you think having a mini-urinal as a
    > toddler would have helped?

    No. There is no actual benefit to teaching a toddler to stand, but if is an incentive in potty training then go for it.

    > Many of you can’t aim properly into
    > a toilet, would this have been
    > beneficial to you?

    Like BTS said… (see above)

    > Do you remember it being a traumatic
    > experience learning how to pee standing up?

    Not at all. Since mom usually took me with her to the ladies room as a youngster, I was thrilled to be old enough to go to the mens room and take care of business standing up.

    > Are public men’s restrooms equipped only
    > with urinals, so that boys never pee into
    > a toilet except in a home?

    There are more ‘piss-pots’ than ’shitters.’ At older stadiums and other large venues there are troughs. Newer construction seems to be complete with dividers in-between the urinals (great for keeping your neighbors rebounding spray off of you).

    > Is it wise to teach boys to aim their
    > stream at a smiling face in a restroom?

    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I guess I’m the only reader with enough OCD to literally answer all of your questions. Hmmm… I need to go organize something now…

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